[♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] >> I'M COMING IN EARLY! >> DOES THE KEY MATTER? >> I'M JUST PRACTICING. [ Singing ] [♪♪] >> YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, WHAT IS AN ALMA MATER. >> AN ALMA MATER IS A SONG THAT UNIVERSITY SINGS. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NYU HAS AN ALMA MATER. >> IT WAS WRITTEN IN 1900 BY A NYU STUDENT FROM BROOKLYN. >> THE MUSIC WAS ARRANGED FROM THE CLASS OF 1900 AND A NEW JERSEY MAN. >> THE ORIGINAL LYRICS DESCRIBE NYU'S SECOND CAMPUS. WHICH OPENED 63 YEARS AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY. >> IT'S CALLED THE PALISADES. >> THE NYU ALMA MATER WAS PERFORMED FOR DECADES AT CONCERTS AND COMMENCEMENTS. >> IT WAS SO POPULAR IN 1944 DURING THE FRESHMAN ORIENTATION, THE CHAIR OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT CHALLENGED THEM TO WRITE THEIR OWN LYRICS ABOUT WASHINGTON SQUARE. >> A NYU STUDENT FROM NEW JERSEYY ROSE UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND MADE NEW LYRICS. >> TO HONOUR THE CLASS OF 2000, 2021, AND 2022 WE ARRANGED A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF OUR ALMA MATER. [ Singing ] [ Singing ] [ Singing ] >> STAY TUNED FOR OUR COMMENCEMENT PRE-SHOW FEATURING OUR FELLOW GRADUATES AND THEIR STORY OF SERVICE, INNOVATION, AND ACHIEVEMENT. >> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE COMMENCEMENT PRE-SHOW. WELCOME TO YANKEE STADIUM! [ Cheering and Applause ] >> THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING! A LITTLE BELATED, BUT SO WELL-DESERVED. IT'S A GRADUATION, IT'S A REUNION, IT'S A CELEBRATION. IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON. I SEE FAMILY UP THERE. AND GUESTS. I SEE YOU BACK HERE. OH, THIS IS -- HELLO! HOW ARE YOU FEELING? [ Cheering and Applause ] >> IN THIS GALITTAN? I LOVE IT. COMING TO YOU LIVE IN THIS ICONIC NEW YORK CITY LOCATION. THERE WILL BE A FORMAL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT JUST A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE CEREMONY. BUT FOR NOW AS YOU'RE MAKING YOUR WAY DOWN TO YOUR SEATS, I HOPE YOU'LL BE HANGING WITH US FOR THE NEXT HALF HOUR. WE WILL BE CELEBRATING GRADUATES -- OR SHOULD I SAY ALUMNI? >> I THINK BOTH. SO NICE TO SEE YOU. >> SO NICE TO SEE YOU! WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING TODAY. AND, MICKEY, YOU ARE THE PERFECT PROOF THAT ONE PERSON CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. DURING THE LOCKDOWN YOU HAD A PAINTING AND HAD A FUNDRAISER FOR THE PHILIPPINES. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PAINTING? >> SURE. SO I DID THIS PAINTING TWO YEARS AGO RIGHT IN THE HEIGHT OF COVID AROUND MY BIRTHDAY. AND YOU CAN SEE A PHILIPPINE JEEP, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE A BUS, HOLDING FRONTLINE WORKERS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT WERE SO IMPORTANT TO US DURING THE PANDEMIC AND STILL NOW. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE BACK AND MAKE THIS LITTLE PAINTING AND START THIS FUNDRAISING DRIVE. >> AND YOU NEVER IMAGINED SKWLUS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU WOULD RAISE WITH THIS. AND IT'S A REALLY POPULAR METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE PHILIPPINES, BUT IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT. IT'S A COLORFUL PART OF THE CULTURE. >> DEFINITELY. THEY WERE INTRODUCED IN THE PHILIPPINES RIGHT AFTER THE WAR, AND THEY'RE PREDOMINANTLY MADE OUT OF SCRAP METAL. I THINK IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, PEOPLE MAKING THINGS THEIR OWN. AND EVERY DRIVER HAS THEIR OWN, AND THEY DECORATE THEIR OWN WAY. I WANTED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THAT IN THIS PAINTING. >> YOU GREW UP IN THE PHILIPPINES UNTIL YOU WERE ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD. CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS FUNDRAISER? THE LOGISTICS. >> WE WERE SO LUCKY TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTING ALL OF THE GOODS AND THE FUNDS AND ACTUALLY FINDING OUT WHAT WAS NEEDED BY THOSE FAMILIES ON THE GROUND. SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ALL OF THEIR HELP IN THAT. >> AND THAT WAS THANKS TO A NYU HOOKUP. HER DAUGHTER GRADUATED THIS MORNING FROM NYU. BUT TOGETHER YOU ALL MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LEARNED FROM THIS, THAT YOU TOOK AWAY FROM THIS EXPERIENCE? >> I THINK IT'S CRAZY. I WAS STUCK IN NEW JERSEY IN COVID, AND JUST THE FACT FROM ALL THE WAY HERE I COULD HELP SO MANY PEOPLE ALL THE WAY THERE IN MY OWN COUNTRY, THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. HOPEFULLY MORE PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED TO HELP, EVEN THOUGH THEY FEEL FAR AWAY. YOU CAN STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> AND I KNOW YOU'VE CALLED YOURSELF AN AMATEUR PAINTER, BUT YOU'VE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE. AND THE NAME OF YOUR CAMPAIGN, THIS IS A FILIPINOES. >> YEAH. SO THIS IS A FILIPINO PHASE WHICH MEANS "LET'S GO". WHICH I THINK IS SUPER APT FOR RIGHT NOW. LET'S GO! >> LET'S GO! THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICKEY SANTANA. DON'T GO TOO FAR. WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK. NEXT WE HAVE JADE. HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY? >> I FEEL GREAT. FEEL HAPPY. >> SO GREAT TO SEE YOU. JADE LAUNCHED THIS COMPANY, SHE MATTERS. IT'S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL ALREADY IN JUST A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY? >> SURE. WE'RE A DIGITAL HEALTH PLATFORM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCE POSTPARTUM ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, HEMORRHAGING. WE DO THAT BY PROVIDING THEM WITH CULTURALLY RELEVANT HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, TREATMENT, AND COMMUNITY. >> I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS. AND PART OF THIS WAS INSPIRED BY YOUR OWN STORY. WE'RE LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF YOUR ADORABLE TWO GIRLS. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATION? >> YEAH. I STARTED SHE MATTERS WITH MY BEST FRIEND AFTER EXPERIENCING HORRIBLE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THE CARE THAT YOU NEED AND DESERVE. SO MY DAUGHTER INSPIRED ME TO MAKE CHANGE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE BABIES AND DESERVE OPTIMUM CARE. >> SO NEEDED: WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU THE FIRST TIME, YOU FINISHED A ROUND OF RAISING CAPITAL, AND YOU JUST RAISED $2 MILLION AT THAT TIME. WHICH IS INCREDIBLE! AND YOU'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN OF COLOR FACE WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING FUNDS. >> YES. IT'S VERY HARD FOR ANYBODY TO RAISE FUNDS. BUT IF YOU'RE A WOMAN OF COLOR, THERE ARE PREJUDICES JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. AND I THINK I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT ALL FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE ABLE TO RAISE CAPITAL AND GET OUT THERE EVERY DAY AFTER RECEIVING COUNTLESS "NOS". IT'S HARD, BUT IT EXPLAINS WHY WE'RE SUCCESSFUL. >> AND I THINK YOU HAVE A BOOK COMING OUT ON THAT TOPIC. >> I DO. I HAVE A BOOK CALLED "LEAN WHILE BLACK" FOR BIPOC FOUNDERS. >> A LITTLE BOOK PROMOTION. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> STEINHARDT 2021! AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY KIDS. >> YES! SHOUT OUT TO THEM ALSO. WE SAW THAT ADORABLE PICTURE. YOU CAN STAY RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT LOOK AROUND FOR A CAMERA PERSON. YOU MIGHT JUST SEE YOURSELF UP THERE ON THE SCREEN. [♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] >> WELCOME BACK TO THE COMMENCEMENT PRE-SHOW. I'M HERE WITH FRANK, WHO IS AN ARMY VETERAN AND A SOCIAL WORK GRAD TIMES TWO. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? >> I'M DOING REALLY GOOD, THANK YOU. >> WANT TO TELL PEOPLE YOUR FULL NAME? >> YEAH. SILVER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, FRANK LASKOWITZ. I GRADUATED IN 2021 WITH MY BACHELOR AND MASTER'S IN 2022 >> CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR BEING AN ARMY VETERAN. I KNOW YOU SPENT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IN KOREA. BUT CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE, WHERE YOU WERE STATIONED, AND YOUR WORK IN THE MILITARY? >> YEAH. I WAS OVER BY THE DMZ. WE WERE JUST TASKED WITH TRAINING A LOT IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENED. I DIDN'T GET TO SEE A LOT OF KOREA BECAUSE ALL WE DID WAS TRAIN AS A GROUP. BUT IT WAS GOOD. >> FRANK IS SO HUMBLE. AND THE DMZ IS THE DECRIMINALIZED ZONE IN KOREA. YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE IN YOUR FAMILY. >> YEAH. FAMILY. DAD, GRANDPA, UNCLE. >> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE STRUGGLES YOU FACED WHILE YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY? >> THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LOT OF TRAUMA. BEING AWAY FROM FAMILY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH SERVING. IT WAS A SOCIAL WORKER THAT HELPED ME WITH ALL MY TRAUMA. AND HE TOLD ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO. THREE YEARS LATER, HERE I AM. >> HERE YOU ARE. I KNOW THERE'S SUPPORT GROUPS. SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU AND SEE YOUR CAREER PATH. AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY ALREADY WORKING IN THE FIELD. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? >> YEAH. I WORK FOR HRC NYC TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND I LOVE IT. EVERY DAY I COME TO WORK JUST HAPPY. >> SUCH A GREAT ATTITUDE. I WANT YOU TO MAKE SOME NOISE FOR FRANK, AN ARMY VETERAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH THEN AND FOR YOUR SERVICE NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING? I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE NYPD FOR PROTECTING US AND KEEPING US SAFE. >> DEFINITELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DON'T GO FAR BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE YOU COME BACK. NEXT WE HAVE KATELYNN. HOW DOES THIS FEEL TODAY? I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BELATED. >> TWO YEARS LATER FOR ME. >> ONLY EIGHT MONTHS. SO I'M STILL EXCITED. >> THE TWO OF YOU CO-FOUNDED SABAI, WHICH IS A SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE COMPANY. BUT I KNOW IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. IT LAUNCHED IN 2019 AND ALREADY YOU HAVE MORE THAN $6 MILLION IN SALES AND IT'S CLIMBING. >> EXACTLY. SABAI IS AN END TO END SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE COMPANY. SO RETHINKING HOW YOU CREATE SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE PRODUCTS BUT ALSO FOR REPAIRING, REVAMPING, AND RESELLING AS WELL. >> AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME VIDEO RIGHT NOW OF SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE FURNITURE THAT YOUR COMPANY MAKES AND DESIGNS. AND I KNOW YOU'RE HOLDING SOME PILLOWS. BUT THIS FURNITURE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY? WHAT MAKES YOUR FURNITURE SUSTAINABLE AND ECO FRIENDLY? >> IN ADDITION TO SELLING THE PIECES SECOND HAND, WE ALSO HAVE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS. THINGS ARE MADE OUT OF FCC CERTIFIED WOOD, RECYCLED FIBRES. WE ALSO DO FABRIC MADE OF RECYCLED WATER BOTTLES. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PILLOW. TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY ABOUT THESE PILLOWS. >> WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CARRY OUR SOFAS HERE, SO WE BROUGHT JUST PILLOWS TODAY. VELVET FABRIC MADE OF RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES. WE'RE COMING OUT WITH COFFEE TABLES NEXT MONTH THAT UTILIZES RECLAIMED CARBON-SMART WOOD. >> COFFEE TABLES ARE NEXT. YOU'RE EXPANDING WITH COFFEE TABLES, AND I THINK YOU HAVE A POP-UP IN NEW YORK CITY RIGHT NOW. WHERE IS THAT? >> WE DO HAVE A POP-UP AT 347 BROOM STREET. EVERYONE SHOULD COME CHECK IT OUT. >> CHECK IT OUT. YES! DO WE GET A NYU DISCOUNT? >> YES. ANY GRADS GRADUATING, WE HAVE A NYU DISCOUNT. IF YOU'RE MOVING AND NEED SOME SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE, CHECK US OUT. >> I TOTALLY PUT THEM ON THE SPOT FOR THAT. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS. I KNOW YOU MET AT ANOTHER NEW YORK UNIVERSITY THAT SHALL REMAIN UNNAMED. BUT THE INSPIRATION CAME FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE? >> YEAH. ESSENTIALLY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TRYING TO FURNISH OUR OWN APARTMENTS BUT ALSO CARING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY. WE FOUND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DO WHEN IT CAME TO CREATING YOUR SPACE. SO DECIDED TO CREATE A SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE LIKE US. >> AND SABAI, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> I'M FROM THAILAND, AND IT'S A WORD THAT MEANS EVERYTHING FROM EASY, COMFY, AND COZY. >> I LOVE IT. AND TELL US WHERE YOU GRADUATED. >> I GRADUATED FROM THE LAW SCHOOL. >> THANKS SO MUCH, SABAI. $6 MILLION IN SALES ALREADY. THAT'S INCREDIBLE! WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER QUICK BREAK, BUT FIRST A MESSAGE FROM THE NEW YORK YANKEES. >> I WANT TO WELCOME THE GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO YANKEE STADIUM FOR NYU'S COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES. >> NYU GRADUATES WILL CELEBRATE THEIR DEGREES IN MANY ACADEMIC FIELDS TODAY. BUT THERE'S ONE FIELD YOU HAVE TO STAY OFF OF, AND THAT'S THE PLAYING FIELD. >> NEW YORK ALWAYS RECOGNIZES A WINNER, AND WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. ENJOY YOUR GRADUATION, BUT REMEMBER ENJOY IT FROM YOUR SEATS AND STAY OFF THE FIELD. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NYU CLASS OF 2020 AND CLASS OF 2021. [ Cheering and Applause ] [♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] >> WELCOME BACK TO THE COMMENCEMENT PRE-SHOW. I'M HERE WITH MATT. >> SO GREAT TO BE HERE. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. HELLO, YANKEE STADIUM. >> GRADUATED IN 2020. MATT IS NOT ONLY A GALLATIN GRAD, BUT HE'S ALSO A COMEDIAN AND AN IMPRESSIONIST. OVER 250 IMPRESSIONS? >> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY. THANKS FOR GALLATIN FOR ADMITTING ME AND DOING SOMETHING WITH THIS ABILITY. >> I HOPE YOU'RE READY. WE HAVE GALLATIN BEHIND US. >> THERE YOU GO! [ Cheering and Applause ] >> THE BEST. >> HE'S BEEN FEATURED ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, ON THE TODAY SHOW. AND CAN YOU TALK A BIT ABOUT YOUR BIG BREAK? >> YEAH. IT ALL STARTED WITH NYU ACCEPTING ME. IF THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT ME, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THE NEW YORK COMEDY SCENE, GO TO CLASS, GO TO THE OPEN MIC. SO THANK GOD FOR NYU GALLATIN AND NYU. THIS WAS JUST THE BEST. I LOVED IT! I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN A NYU STUDENT. >> GALLATIN BY DAY, A GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB BY NIGHT. >> A DOUBLE AGENT. >> AND DURING LOCKDOWN, I KNOW ALL THE COMEDY CLUBS WERE SHUT DOWN, BUT YOU STARTED YOUR OWN SHOW. >> YEAH. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE ALL NEEDED SOME WAY TO PIVOT, SO I MADE A LITTLE LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOW WITH A FRIEND OF MINE FROM NYU. IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE. AND THEN PIVOTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA, TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM. NOW I'M HERE AND DOING STAND-UP BACK IN THE CITY. AT YANKEE STADIUM THE PARTY IS STARTING. >> THE PARTY'S ALREADY ON! HE DOES MORE THAN 250 IMPRESSIONS. WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS -- MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD THAT PRESIDENT ANDY HAMILTON IS STEPPING DOWN. SO WE'RE HOLDING AUDITIONS FOR A NEW PRESIDENT. I HEARD MAYBE THE PAST COUPLE OF PRESIDENTS DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW? >> WELL, IT'S TRUE. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO SPEAK. BUT ANDY IS STEPPING DOWN. AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS I'M GOING TO REALLY RUN THIS SCHOOL. AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT BARACK IS SAYING. WELL, WHAT I CAN SAY IS IN ADDITION TO MY WORK WITH NETFLIX, I WILL NOW BE RUNNING NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. SO THANK YOU, MR. HAMILTON, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT! I THINK NYU COULD USE SOMEBODY A LITTLE BIT MORE CELEBRITY. >> YEAH. WELL, IF I CAN JUST SAY, BEING HERE AT YANKEE STADIUM REMINDS ME OF MY WORK AS FREDDY MERCURY. CAN I GET A "AYO". THAT WAS FUN. >> THANK YOU, FRANKIE MERCURY. >> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE. A GALLATIN ALUM. I THINK AS AN ACTOR YOU WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE. AND AS PRESIDENT OF NYU, I'LL MAKE SURE TO DO THE SAME THING. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO NYU. WHOA! TAYLOR SAID TO BE CRINGE, BY THE WAY, SO I'M JUST FOLLOWING THE RULES. >> WHAT ABOUT SINCE ANDY IS BRITISH, MAYBE A LITTLE BRITISH HUMOUR. >> WELL, THIS IS JOHN OLIVER. AND WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME TO YANKEE STADIUM. OF COURSE NYU CHOSE ANOTHER BRITISH PERSON TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HAMILTON, FOR KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> SO GOOD. THAT WAS SO GOOD. I THINK I'VE HEAD MY DECISION, THOUGH. YOU HAVE HAD SUCH A CRAZY COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC. I REALLY THINK DR. FAUCI SHOULD BE THE NEW PRESIDENT OF NYU. >> WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IN THE EVENT THAT I AM SELECTED TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF NYU, I WOULD SAY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK IN EVERY CLASS AND EVERY DORM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. INSTAGRAM AT THE MAD FRIEND. SHAMELESS PLUG. >> SHAMELESS PLUG. SO GOOD! I WANT TO HEAR YOU MAKE SOME NOISE FOR MATT! >> LOVE YOU, NYU! >> SO GOOD. WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME. I WANT TO HAVE EVERYONE COME BACK OUT. THE OFFICIAL PRECISION IS JUST A FEW MINUTES AWAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SPOT. THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND THANKS TO YOU. I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE BELATED CELEBRATION, BUT IT'S SO WELL DESERVED. IT'S A REUNION, A CELEBRATION. I WANT TO GIVE A SHUT-OUT TO MY CREW HERE ON THE FIELD AND OUT IN THE TRUCK. BUT FIRST, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. HOW'S EVERYBODY FEELING? [ Cheering and Applause ] >> ALL RIGHT. HOW IS EVERYBODY FEELING? I CAN'T HEAR YOU. [ Cheering and Applause ] >> I CAN SEE YOU, BUT I CAN'T HEAR. IF YOU ARE EXCITED FOR THE CELEBRATION YOU SO DESERVE, I WANT TO HEAR YOU MAKE SOME NOISE. [ Cheering and Applause ] >> KEEP THAT ENERGY GOING. THE FACULTY PROCESSION IS JUST A FEW MOMENTS AWAY. GET UP, GET MOVING! WE WANT TO SEE YOU GET YOUR GROOVE ON. HAVE A GREAT DAY. YOU DESERVE IT! [♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [CROWD CHEERING] ♪ ♪ [crowd cheering] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Announcer: GRADUATES, FAMILY, FRIENDS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS FEAR IN A FEW MOMENTS, THE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY FACULTY WILL ENTER THE STADIUM. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ACCESS TO THE FIELD IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES. THANK YOU. ♪ ♪ PLEASE WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY FACULTY. ♪ ♪ ["POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE" PLAYING] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [BAGPIPES PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: PLEASE WELCOME REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSEMBLY, 1831 FUND, AND SENIOR CLASS ACTIVITIES BOARD CARRYING THE UNIVERSITY COLORS AND LEADING THE 189TH COMMENCEMENT PLATFORM PARTY INTO THE STADIUM. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ PLEASE GIVE A HEARTY WELCOME TO MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND TWO MEMBERS OF OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CLASSES FROM 1970 AND 1971 WHO JOIN US TODAY TO CELEBRATE OUR GRADUATES. [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ PLEASE WELCOME NEW YORK UNIVERSITY'S CLASS OF 2020 AND CLASS OF 2021 SCHOOL BANNER BEARERS, DEANS, AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES, MARCHING IN FOUNDING ORDER. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. [APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ SCHOOL OF LAW. ♪ ♪ GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. ♪ ♪ TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. ♪ ♪ COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ LEONARD N. STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ RORY MEYERS COLLEGE OF NURSING. ♪ ♪ SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES. [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ ROBERT F WEGNER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE. ♪ ♪ SILVER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. ♪ ♪ TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. [CHEERING] ♪ ♪ GALLATIN SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY. ♪ ♪ LIBERAL STUDIES. ♪ ♪ NYU ABU DHABI. ♪ ♪ NYU SHANGHAI. ♪ ♪ SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NOW ENTERING THE STADIUM ARE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AND HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS, LED BY OUR CHIEF MARSHAL. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ESTEEMED GUESTS, THE PROVOST OF NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, KATHERINE FLEMING. [APPLAUSE] >> HERE AND NOW, IN THE PRESENCE OF CANDIDATES FOR ACADEMIC RECOGNITION, MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION, ALUMNI, TRUSTEES, HONORED GUESTS AND FRIENDS, NEW YORK UNIV UNIVERSITY'S 189TH COMMENCEMENT IS HEREBY CONVENED. [APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: PLEASE WELCOME LISA COLEMAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR GLOBAL INCLUSION AND STRATEGIC INNOVATION, AND CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER. >> HELLO, I'M DR. LISA COLEMAN, AND MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE AND HER. [APPLAUSE] IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2020 AND 2021. CONGRATULATIONS! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] LET US TAKE THIS MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LANDS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHOSE LANDS WE NOW OCCUPY. AS WE GATHER HERE IN NEW YORK CITY AND ACROSS OUR VARIOUS SITES, AND VIRTUALLY, NYU ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE UNIVERSITY, AS A GLOBAL INSTITUTION, IS LOCATED ON THE UNSEEDED LANDS AND WAS FOUNDED UPON THE EXCLUSIONS AND ERASURES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES GLOBALLY, AS WELL AS THE DISCOUNTED LABOR OF MANY. WE AS A COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THESE LEGACIES OF SETTLER COLONIALISM AND WORK TO BOTH RECOGNIZE AND DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC EXCLUSIONS AND SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION SPIRIT I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN ACKNOWLEDGING ELDE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US, AS WELL AS CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO CONTINUE TO PAVE THE WAY FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY. THOSE WHO ARE KNOWN TO US, AS WELL AS THOSE WHOSE LABOR AND INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE GONE UNACKNOWLEDGED. WITHOUT THESE CRUCIAL GLOBAL CONTRIBUTIONS, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TO BUILD UPON THIS WORK. WE ARE APPRECIATIVE AND RESPECTFUL OF THESE FOUNDATIONS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A 5-SECOND MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION. >> Announcer: AND NOW, PLEASE RISE FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM LED BY BERN TAN, WHO RECEIVED A MASTER OF MUSIC DEGREE FROM THE STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN 2020. ♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE ♪ ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ ♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED ♪ ♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE ♪ ♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪ ♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, EVAN R. CHESLER. >> HELLO, CLASSES OF 2020 AND '21. [APPLAUSE] I'M EVAN CHESLER. I AM A TRUSTEE, AND I AM A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE CLASS -- COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, CLASS OF '70. [APPLAUSE] AND THE SCHOOL OF LAW, CLASS OF '75. I WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THIS LONG-AWAITED OCCASION AT YANKEE STADIUM. WE ARE SO PLEASED TO BE CELEBRATING WITH YOU TONIGHT, MARKING THIS SIGNIFICANT, HARD-EARNED MILESTONE IN YOUR LIVES. THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING GLOWED VIOLET IN YOUR HONOR LAST NIGHT. [APPLAUSE] THIS WAS A SYMBOL OF OUR ENORMOUS PRIDE IN YOU AND IN OUR CITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME MY CLASSMATES FROM 1970 AND THE CLASS OF '71 FOR OUR 50TH REUNION'S. [APPLAUSE] TIMES WERE VERY DIFFERENT WHEN WE WERE HERE. THERE WERE FEWER SCHOOLS. WE HAD TWO STUDY AWAY SITES. BOBST WAS OPEN WHEN I WAS A LAW STUDENT HERE. WE WERE NOT THE GLOBAL POWERHOUSE THAT WE ARE TODAY. BUT SOME THINGS INDOOR. WE HAD THEN AND WE HAVE NOW GREAT PROFESSORS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS, AND I CREDIT MY CAREER TO THE WONDERFUL EDUCATION I RECEIVED HERE. I HOPE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY AS YOU EMBARK UPON YOUR CAREERS. WE SHARE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT: OUR CONNECTION TO N NYU. WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF AN ILLUSTRIOUS GROUP OF 600,000 ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD. [APPLAUSE] I HOPE YOU HAVE ALREADY FOUND THAT NYU'S NETWORK OF GRADUATES IS A GREAT SOURCE -- FORM OF SUPPORT FOR YOU AS YOU MOVE THROUGH YOUR CAREERS. I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL BE. YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR ALMA MATER CAN BE ENORMOUSLY REWARDING, SO WHILE YOU HAVE LEFT OF THE CAMPUS, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR UNIVERSITY. WE ARE JOINED THIS EVENING BY THREE EXTRAORDINARY HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS. EACH OF WHOM HAS MADE AN INDELIBLE IMPRINT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS. THEY BROKE THROUGH BARRIERS. THEY CHARTERED ALL NEW TERRITORIES IN DISABILITY RIGHTS, IN ARTS AND CULTURE, IN HISTORY AND JOURNALISM. THEY STAND BEFORE YOU AS MODELS OF WHAT YOU CAN BE. MY FELLOW TRUSTEES AND I ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOU, THE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO MAKE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD. WE KNOW YOU ALREADY OUT IN THE WORLD CREATING YOUR OWN PATHS. WHAT WE DO TODAY IS APPLAUD YOU, HONOR YOU, AND WELCOME YOU HOME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: WE NOW PRESENT A VIDEO TRIBUTE TO THE CLASS OF 2020 AND THE CLASS OF 2021, FEATURING ALUMNI FROM EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS. ♪ ♪ >> THAT WAS A WILD TWO YEARS, BUT WE ARE FINALLY HERE AND WE MADE IT. >> OH, MY GOSH. I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE AT YANKEE STADIUM. ♪ ♪ >> I GRADUATED FROM THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. >> I GRADUATED FROM GALLATIN. >> LIBERAL STUDIES. >> THE TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. >> NYU SHANGHAI. >> I GRADUATED FROM NYU. >> NYU LAW. >> I GRADUATED FROM TISCH. >> NYU ABU DHABI. >> SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. >> SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE. >> FROM THE GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. >> I GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES. >> I GRADUATED FROM THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. >> NYU COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY. >> THE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. ♪ ♪ >> WHAT INITIALLY BROUGHT ME TO NYU IS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE BIG APPLE. EVERY DAY WAS ESSENTIALLY A NEW ADVENTURE BECAUSE OF THE CITY WAS MY CAMPUS. >> IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO LEARN THINGS NOT JUST IN THE ACADEMIC CLASSROOM, BUT TO THINK OUTSIDE. >> NYU PROVIDED SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND YOUR PEOPLE. I DEFINITELY WAS ABLE TO BUILD MY OWN COMMUNITY AT NYU AND MAKE THE BIG CITY FEEL SMALL. >> THE NYU COMMUNITY A SORT OF LIKE A FAMILY FOR ME. >> CHANGING, EVOLVING. >> VERY CURIOUS. >> THOUGHT PROVOKING. >> THERE IS THIS BLEND OF THOUGHT, CULTURE, HISTORY, AND DIVERSITY IS UNPARALLELED. >> IT WAS GREAT BEING IN FRONT CIRCLES WHERE ONE PERSON IS STUDYING POLITICS, ECONOMICS, THE OTHER PERSON GETTING READY FOR LAW SCHOOL. >> I FELT LIKE I COULD BRING MY FULL SELF TO NYU. >> IT IS NOT REALLY THE UNIVERSITY WHERE YOU ONLY FIND ONE PAT AND STICK TO THAT. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE. >> I GOT TO TAKE CLASSES IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND JUST GETTING TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS AND NOT IN WORRIED ABOUT MY FUTURE CAREER. >> I STARTED OFF AS A BIOLOGY MAJOR. >> THE PROFESSORS I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING IN CLASS WITH WERE SUPER ENGAGING AND REALLY CARE ABOUT YOU AS A PERSON. >> THEY ALWAYS WANTED TO QUESTION. >> YOU JUST GO BEYOND YOURSELF, MAYBE SOMETIMES BEYOND YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS WHEN YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT THEY ENVIRONMENT. >> I AM HONORED TO BE THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE AT ACHIEVE MY DREAM AS AN IMMIGRANT AND A UNITED STATES CITIZEN. >> SO MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE TO SUPPORT ME AND I MISSED THAT AFTER COLLEGE, TO BE HONEST. >> WHAT ELSE I MISS THE MOST IS THE EXPLORATION. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON. >> I DEFINITELY JUST MISS BEING IN A ROOM FULL OF AMAZING PEOPLE JUST THROWING IDEAS OUT THERE AND BRAINSTORMING. >> ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES AT NYU WAS ACTUALLY NOT A NEW YORK CITY BUT IN ABU DHABI, I SPENT TEN DAYS IN THE TERM PROGRAM. >> I STUDIED ABROAD IN PRAGUE. >> SYDNEY. >> LONDON. >> NYU SHANGHAI. >> IT IT WAS SUCH A MIND-BLOWING EXPERIENCE. >> THE FURTHEST AWAY FROM HOME. >> I GOT TO SAY THAT MANY TIMES IN MY NYU EXPERIENCE. >> BEING AT NYU HELPED ME REALIZE I WILL ALWAYS BE LEARNING TO DISCOVER DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD, DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES, AND THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. ♪ ♪ >> NYU GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A LEADER. >> I DEFINITELY GREW AS A PRACTITIONER, COLLEAGUE, FRIEND, MENTOR. >> TALKING TO MY PEERS GOING INTO DIFFERENT CLUBS AND CLASSES OPENED MY EYES TO WHAT WAS OUT THERE AND WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE. >> EVERYONE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH AND LIFE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH. >> I WORK FULL-TIME AT A NONPROFIT. I AM ALSO A POET, PART OF A GROUP CALLED ARTS POETIC. >> I AM BASED IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, AND I'M WORKING FOR THE FILM FESTIVAL. >> A NONPROFIT THAT PRIMARILY WORKS IN THE CRIMINAL, LEGAL, AND IMMIGRATION FIELD. >> ANALYST AT A COMPANY CALLED SNEAK. >> AT CLIMATE UNIVERSITY, I DO PROGRAMMING. >> I AM A CORPORATE ATTORNEY. >> I WORK AS A PEDIATRIC REGISTERED NURSE. >> NEW YORK CITY AND NYU PREPARED ME TO BE THE END OF TREASURY PROFESSIONAL I AM TODAY. ♪ ♪ >> NYU BROUGHT US TOGETHER AND WE ARE SPREAD OUT AND IT IS GREAT TO KNOW WHERE EVER YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT RUN INTO SOMEONE HE WENT TO NYU. >> NOW WHENEVER I SEE SOMEONE IN NYU GEAR, IN MY HEAD I JUST GO, OH! WE HAVE SOMEHOW OVERLAPPED AT SOME POINT. ♪ ♪ >> THE MOMENT I FOUND WE WOULD ALL BE AT YANKEE AGAIN, I THOUGHT BACK TO THE MOMENT WHERE WE ALL WERE SUDDENLY, LIKE, POTENTIALLY EVER GOING TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN BECAUSE IT DID COME SO ABRUPTLY. >> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY RIGHT WAY TO PROCESS WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH. IT IS SUCH A BLESSING, LIKE, TO SEE EVERYBODY. >> IT IS VERY SPECIAL TO BRING US ALL BACK TOGETHER UNDER THAT SAME BANNER. >> THIS GRADUATION IS NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT ME HERE. IT TOOK A VILLAGE FOR ME TO BE HERE AND I THINK IT IS THE SAME FOR SO MANY STUDENTS. AT NYU -- >> ONE LAST HURRAH FOR OUR CLASS BUT ALSO THE START OF THIS JOURNEY WHERE WE ARE PART OF THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF NYU ALUMNI. SEEING ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO I KNOW SUPPORT ME THROUGH THE REST OF MY LIFE I THINK IS REALLY POWERFUL. ♪ ♪ >> OH, MAN, EVERYONE RIGHT HERE IN MY DINING ROOM. >> I HAVE A LITTLE -- I HAVE A LITTLE THING HERE. >> PUT THE HAT ON FOR THIS ONE. [LAUGHS] ♪ ♪ >> TO THE CLASS OF 2020 AND MY CLASS, CLASS OF 2021, I JUST WANT TO SAY, ONE, YOU PROBABLY HEARD IT SO MUCH, BUT CONGRATULATIONS. SO MUCH DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN LONG AND TIRESOME, AND HERE IS A BIG MOMENT WHERE THERE IS NOTHING BUT CELEBRATION. >> I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL TO US, THE MEMORY AND PEOPLE WE MET AT NYU. ♪ ♪ >> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020 AND 2021. >> CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE. >> [SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE] >> [SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE] CLASS OF 2020 AND 2021. >> LANG PITCH. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> [SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE] >> WE DID AT! >> CAN GRADUATIONS! >> CHERISH THIS MOMENT. YOU DESERVE IT. ♪ ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: PLEASE WELCOME AMY DONG, WHO RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE FROM THE LEONARD N. STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IN 2020, AND WHO WILL NOW ADDRESS HER FELLOW ALUMNI. >> HELLO, CLASS OF 2020! [APPLAUSE] AND CLASS OF 2021, WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE, TOO. [LAUGHTER] TO ALL OF US, I LIFT AN IMAGINARY TOAST GOBLET TO SAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON OFFICIALLY GRADUATING, AGAIN. [APPLAUSE] MY NAME IS AMY, BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM THAT'S TOTALLY COOL. I GOT DINNER A MONTH AGO WITH A FEW STUDY ABROAD FRIENDS FROM 2017, AND OUR CONVERSATION LITERALLY STARTED WITH SOMEONE POINTING AT ME AND SAYING "OH, MY GOD, I TOTALLY FORGOT YOU EXISTED." [LAUGHTER] WE ALL LAUGHED. AND THEN WE ADMITTED TO EACH OTHER JUST HOW FAR AND LONG AGO EVERYTHING NYU FELT. THINGS LIKE STUDY ABROAD, EXAMS, EVEN EACH OTHER. BUT TODAY, WITH ALL OF US GATHERED HERE AT YANKEE STADIUM, OF COURSE WE ARE REMINDED ABOUT EVERYTHING NYU AGAIN. TODAY, WE ALL CHOSE TO CONSCIOUSLY HIT PAUSE ON OUR NOW ADULT LIVES TO TAKE A LOOK BACK. AND BECAUSE THIS ISN'T A NORMAL COMMENCEMENT, AND BECAUSE THESE PAST TWO YEARS HAVEN'T BEEN NORMAL YEARS, I'M SURE I'M THE FIRST ONE WHO HAS TOLD YOU THAT, I'LL FORGO THE USUAL "LET'S GO CHANGE THE WORLD" SPEECH AND INSTEAD, ASK US ALL TO SPEND THE NEXT FEW MINUTES ON THE PAST. IF I ASK YOU TO RECALL ONE MEMORY AT NYU THAT WILL LAST YOU FOR A LIFETIME, I'M SURE YOU HAVE ONE. IN FACT, NOT JUST ONE, BUT DOZENS AND HUNDREDS THAT MADE YOU WANT TO COME BACK HERE AND CELEBRATE TODAY. I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT FOR A LONG TIME NOW. BECAUSE FOR ME, TO BE STANDING HERE IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE. IN 2017, AFTER MY FALL SEMESTER IN PRAGUE, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN EATING DISORDER AND TOLD I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I WAS EXTREMELY UNDERWEIGHT, HAD A SHRUNKEN HEART, AND WAS THIS CLOSE TO HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND MY LIFE. I WAS PULLED OUT OF NYU IN THE SPRING, AND I SPENT IT AT HOME ALONE, RECOVERING MY WEIGHT AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, MY SENSE OF SELF. WHAT DID IT MEAN, TO BE ALIVE? TO LIVE A LIFE TRULY WORTH LIVING? AND WHEN I RETURNED, I FELT ACUTELY AWARE THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SMALLEST THINGS. LIKE WALK IN THE CITY, SEE A FRIEND, EVEN GO TO CLASS. I KNEW I HAD BEEN GRANTED A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE, SO DAMN IT, I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHS] I'M GOING TO CRY. AND THEN COVID HIT, AND WE ALL WENT HOME AGAIN, AND WE ALL GRADUATED REMOTELY IN FRONT OF OUR COMPUTER SCREENS. AND THAT IT WASN'T JUST ME, BUT ALL OF US WHO HAD TO THINK ABOUT OR RETHINK WHAT WE REALLY WANTED OUT OF LIFE. IN MY CASE, I MOVED TO TAIWAN. I WENT TO GO TEACH ENGLISH UNDER A FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP, AND EVERYTHING -- [APPLAUSE] EVERYTHING WAS REALLY GOOD FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND THEN, LAST APRIL, I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A FREAK TRAIN ACCIDENT. TWO OF MY FRIENDS, INCLUDING MY ROOMMATE AT THE TIME, WERE NOT AS LUCKY. NOW, I'M TELLING THIS STORY, NOT TO EVOKE PITY OR TO MAKE YOU SAD, I PROMISE. I'M TELLING IT BECAUSE I BET EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US SITTING HERE, STANDING HERE, HAS EXPERIENCED LOSS OR GRIEF OR SACRIFICE IN SOME WAY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IN SPITE OF IT ALL, WE ARE HERE TODAY, WITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND WE ARE VERY MUCH ALIVE. [APPLAUSE] AND IF THAT ISN'T THE DESTDEFINITIONOF RESILIENCE, I T IS. AND THOUGH WE HAVE LOST MUCH, WE HAVE ALSO GAINED MUCH. WE HAVE GAINED PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE GAINED PATIENTS. FOR OTHERS, AND ALSO FOR OURSELVES. AND WE HAVE GAINED A COLLECTIVE SENSE OF HOW PRECIOUS LIFE REALLY IS. NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE OR NOT, WE'VE ALL HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH THE MEANING OF LIFE THESE PAST FEW YEARS. AND AT THE WISE OLD AGE OF 23, I THINK I'VE FOUND THE ANSWER. FOR ME, THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TWOFOLD. ONE, IT IS ABOUT ENJOYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME. IT'S ABOUT LOOKING FORWARD, YES, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT LOOKING BACK, LIKE WE ARE TODAY, AND JUST APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE BEAUTIFUL MOMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE CALL ONE LIFE. AND THE SECOND PART IS RECOGNIZING JUST HOW SHORT LIFE CAN BE. IF NOTHING ELSE, COVID TAUGHT US THIS. SO, CLASS OF 2020, IF THERE'S JUST ONE THING YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS SPEECH TODAY, IT'S THAT YOU MATTER. YOUR LIFE MATTERS. YOUR TIME MATTERS. AND BECAUSE OUR TIME HERE IS, AA FAMILY, AS A HUMAN GROUP -- [LAUGHS] WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. [APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: PLEASE WELCOME DIYA RADHAKRISHNA, WHO RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF ARTS FROM LIBERAL STUDIES IN 2021, AND WHO WILL NOW ADDRESS HER FELLOW ALUMNI. >> HELLO, CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021! [APPLAUSE] CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME MOMENT OF GRADUATION IN SECOND TIME AROUND? WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO PHYSICALLY SHARE THIS SPACE AND TIME WITH YOU. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MADE IT HERE TODAY, TWO INCREDIBLE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE OF THE RESILIENCE, JOY, AND HOPE THAT WE HAVE SHOWN IN THE LAST YEARS. I SEE RESILIENCE IN MY INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS IN THIS STADIUM -- [APPLAUSE] WHO HAVE COMBATED GLOBAL VACCINE IN EQUITY TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW. IT'S MY LITTLE BROTHER, WRITING HIS 12TH GRADE CHEMISTRY EXAM IN INDIA AS WE SPEAK, AFTER TWO STRESSFUL YEARS OF ONLINE SC SCHOOL. AND AFTER GRADUATION, I LEARNED RESILIENCE WITH ALL OF YOU, AS WE TACKLED ENDLESS CYCLES OF APPLICATIONS AND REJECTIONS IN OUR NEW CAREER PATHS. JOY FEELS LIKE EATING GARLIC KNOTS WITH MY FRIENDS ON THE FLOOR OF MY VERY FIRST POSTGRADUATE APARTMENT. IT'S IN EVERY EMAIL FROM MY NYU STUDY AWAY MENTOR, THREE YEARS LATER BUT WITH THE SAME WORDS, HALLO AUS BERLIN -- HELLO FROM BERLIN. IT'S EVEN IN FILING MY TAXES IN MY FIRST POST GRAD JOB AND THINKING, DOES THIS MAKE ME AN ADULT NOW? MY ABILITY TO FIND JOY IN THINGS LARGE AND SMALL HAS STAYED WITH ME BEYOND NYU. IN THIS VERY SPEECH LAST YEAR, I SPOKE ABOUT HOPE TO A CROWD OF COMPUTER SCREENS. BACK THEN, IT SEEMED TOO BOLD TO HOPE THAT THE LANDMARK VIRTUAL MOMENT OF GRADUATION WOULD EVER BECOME REAL. TODAY, AS I STAND HERE WITH YOU, THAT HOPE HAS BEEN FULFILLED. [APPLAUSE] AND THINGS ARE STILL HARD. I MEAN, MY FAMILY IS STILL 3,00, INDIA, WATCHING THIS AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. HI MA, HI HARI, HI DODA, LOVE YOU! [APPLAUSE] BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS PAST YEAR, ON EVERY VIDEO CALL HOME, I HAVE SEEN HOPE IN MY MOTHER'S EYES AS SHE'S WATCHED ME GAIN A DEEPER, BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD. CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, WE HAVE BEEN RESILIENT IN OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE AFTER GRADUATION TOGETHER. OUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY, TOGETHER, IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO CULTIVATE JOY IN A WORLD FULL OF UNCERTAINTIES. AND RIGHT NOW, OUR SINGULAR PATHS AND DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES CONVERGE IN THIS MOMENT OF SHARED HOPE. WE HAVE CARRIED THESE QUALITIES INTO THE POSTGRADUATE, POST-COVID REAL WORLD, AS WE LEARN TO CREATE THE WORLD WE REALLY WANT TO LIVE IN. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO GROW WITH YOU AS WE GRADUATE FROM NYU, TWICE, WITH RESILIENCE, JOY, AND HOPE. THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREES WILL NOW BE PRESENTED. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT LYNNE BROWN WILL CALL UPON DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY TO PRESENT THE HONORARY DEGREE CANDIDATES. ASSISTING WITH THE INVESTITURE'S WILL BE PROVOST KATHERINE FLEMING. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE DEBORAH WILLIS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGING, TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF SO AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, AND DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS AND THE CENTER FOR BLACK VISUAL CULTURE, WHO WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATE FOR DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. WHILE TRUSTEE ANTHONY WALTERS ESCORTED THE CANDIDATE TO THE LECTERN? [APPLAUSE] >> WELCOME. IT IS REALLY GREAT TO BE HERE, CLASS OF 2020 AND 2021. WHAT AN HONOR. [APPLAUSE] WHAT AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE MY FRIEND, LONNIE G BUNCHE THE THIRD, SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, HISTORIAN, EDUCATOR, CURATOR, DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER, AND INSTITUTIONAL FOUNDER, YOU HAVE BROKEN GROUND IN EACH OF THESE ROLES, OVERSEEING 21 MUSEUMS, 21 LIBRARIES, THE NATIONAL ZOO, NUMEROUS RESEARCH CENTERS, AND SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL UNITS AND CENTERS. YOU ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND FIRST HISTORIAN TO SERVE AS HEAD OF THE SMITHSONIAN. [APPLAUSE] A WIDELY PUBLISHED AUTHOR, YOU HAVE WRITTEN NEW CHAPTERS IN THE AMERICAN BLACK EXPERIENCE, FROM THE MILITARY TO SMALL TOWNS IN THE AMERICAN WEST. AS INAUGURAL DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE, YOU ENVISIONED AND TURNED INTO REALITY A MUSEUM ON THE NATIONAL MALL THAT WELCOMES MILLIONS OF VISITORS FROM OUR COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. THEY COME TO THE NATION'S LARGEST CULTURAL DESTINATION DEVOTED TO EXPLORING, DOCUMENTING, AND SHOWCASING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STORY AND ITS IMPACT ON AMERICAN AND WORLD HISTORY. INSPIRED BY THE SOLES AND SACRIFICES OF YOUR ANCESTORS, YOU PAID TRIBUTE TO THEM IN YOUR DETERMINATION TO BUILD A PLACE THAT WOULD MAKE AMERICA BETTER. [APPLAUSE] >> LONNIE G. BUNCH III, YOUR UNSWERVING DEDICATION TO THE IDEA THAT EDUCATION AND CULTURE CAN ENLIGHTEN AND HEAL, AND YOUR OPTIMISM ABOUT THE AMERICAN FUTURE INSPIRE US ALL. BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, I AM PLEASED TO CONFER UPON YOU THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS HONORIS CAUSA. [APPLAUSE] >> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TIMOTHY NAFTALI, CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE, ROBERT F. WAGNER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE, AND CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, WHO WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATE FOR DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. WHILE TRUSTEE PLEASE ESCORT THE CANDIDATE TO THE LECTERN? [APPLAUSE] >> IT'S A LITTLE LOW. CONGRATULATIONS, CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021. I KNEW YOU COULD MAKE IT. I AM HONORED TODAY TO JOIN WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO CELEBRATE AN EXAMPLE OR IN MY DISCIPLINE. JILL LEPORE, DAVID WOODS KEMPER CLASS OF '41, PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN HISTORY AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY. [APPLAUSE] AUTHOR OF OVER A DOZEN PRIZE-WINNING AND INFLUENTIAL BOOKS THAT REENGAGE US WITH THE AMERICAN PAST AND ITS LESSONS, YOUR RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPLORE THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES ABOUT OUR PURPOSE AND IDENTITY. HONORED FOR YOUR SCHOLARSHIP AND YOUR UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING, YOU HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIELDS OF LAW, LITERATURE, POLITICS, AND TECHNOLOGY. YOUR LUCID INTERPRETATIONS OF THE AMERICAN NARRATIVE ENGAGE NOT ONLY YOUR FIELD, BUT A VAST PUBLIC THROUGH YOUR STUNNING BREADTH OF SUBJECTS IN ESSAYS, PODCASTS, AND PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS. YOU ARE-LAUDED WRITING MAINTAINS THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF YOUR DISCIPLINE IN A VOICE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND COMPELLING. YOU CONTINUALLY CHALLENGE US TO CONFRONT THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE RIGOR OF UNSPARING ANALYSIS AND THE MARSHALING OF FACTS. YOU COMBINE A CRITICAL EYE WITH EMPATHY FOR THIS DIVERSE NATION. IN REVEALING OVERLOOKED ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU HAVE EXPOSED THE UNFINISHED WORK OF OUR DEMOCRACY, EXHORTING US, ESPECIALLY THIS GENERATION OF GRADUATES, YOU, TO REPAIR THE TATTERED SHIP AND NAVIGATE BY THE STARS. [APPLAUSE] >> JILL LEPORE, IN YOUR SCRUPULOUS WORK AS A HISTORIAN, UNCOMPROMISING DEDICATION AS A TEACHER, AND EXHILARATING CONTRIBUTIONS AS A PUBLIC INTELLECTUAL, YOU OFFER NEW PROSPECTS FOR WHAT INFORMED KNOWLEDGE CAN MEAN TO 21ST CENTURY DEMOCRACY. BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, I AM PLEASED TO CONFER UPON YOU THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS HONORIS CAUSA. [APPLAUSE] >> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE FAYE GINSBURG, DAVID P KREISER PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY, PAULETTE GODDARD DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER OF RELIGION AND MEDIF ANTHROPOLOGY, FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, AND COCHAIR OF THE NYU CENTER FOR DISABILITY STUDIES, WHO WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATE FOR DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS. WILL TRUSTEE DAVID A KATZ PLEASE ESCORT THE CANDIDATE TO THE LECTERN? [APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING, GRADUATES OF 2020 AND 2021. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE JUDITH HEUMANN. [APPLAUSE] SHE IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND A POLICYMAKER. JUDITH, YOU HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING THE UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF DISABLED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. YOU ARE CARRYING ON THE VISION OF YOUR UNSTOPPABLE PARENTS, ILSE AND WARNER HEUMANN, MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING. AMONG YOUR TRAILBLAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU WERE THE FIRST WHEELCHAIR USER TO TEACH AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY. [APPLAUSE] THERE IS A LONG LIST. THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. [APPLAUSE] THE FIRST ADVISOR TO THE WORLD BANK ON DISABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT. [APPLAUSE] YOU ARE AN AMAZING AND UNREPENTANT BADASS, AND I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO TELL YOU THAT. [APPLAUSE] YOU HAVE ORGANIZED COUNTLESS PROTESTS AND SIT-INS IN YOUR FIGHT FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS, ONE OF WHICH SUCCESSFULLY PRESSURED THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT PROTECTIONS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE AND IGNITED A NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990. WHICH HAS TRANSFORMED ALL OUR LIVES. [APPLAUSE] YOU ALSO -- AS IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH -- WORKED WITH THE U.S. CONGRESS TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT, FROM WHICH ALL OF YOU HAVE PROFITED. [APPLAUSE] YOU'VE SERVED IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON AND IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA. YOUR REACH AND INFLUENCE IN SHAPING INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS AND JUSTICE IS UNPARALLELED. THANK YOU, JUDITH, AND CONGRATULATIONS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> JUDITH HEUMANN, YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS EXEMPLIFY WHAT ONE PERSON CAN DO TO GALVANIZE COMMUNITIES, LAUNCH A MULTIFACETED MOVEMENT, EMBED ITS VALUES IN LEGISLATION, AND ENERGIZED DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME, I AM PLEASED TO CONFER UPON YOU THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS HONORIS CAUSA. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I AM NOW DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE JUDITH HEUMANN, WHO WILL RESPOND ON BEHALF OF THE HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS THIS EVENING. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. [APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] LET ME FIRST DEVIATE FROM MY PREPARED REMARKS JUST TO SAY THAT THIS MOVEMENT IS MADE UP OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND YOU ARE MANY OF THEM. NO ONE PERSON EVER CREATES A MOVEMENT. REMEMBER THAT. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING PRESIDENT HAMILTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FACULTY AND STAFF, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FELLOW HONOREES, ALL THE FAMILIES HERE TONIGHT, AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, FROM NEAR AND FAR AND ONLINE, THE GRADUATING CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021. [APPLAUSE] IT'S BEEN A MINUTE, BUT YOU MADE IT AT LAST. IT'S A HUGE HONOR FOR ME TO RETURN TO NEW YORK TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING. AND TO SHARE THIS STAGE WITH SUCH LUMINARIES, SUCH IMPRESSIVE AND ACCOMPLISHED HONOREES, AS LONNIE BUNCH AND JILL LEPORE. YOUR CAREERS HAVE BEEN TRULY BREATHTAKING, AND ALL OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN ENRICHED BY YOUR RESPECTIVE COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT OUR HISTORY AND OUR CULTURE ARE INFORMED AND ANIMATED BY THE VOICES OF ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE WHOSE LIVES AND STORIES OTHERS HAVE SOUGHT DEVALUE, TO DENY, AND TO DENIGRATE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU CONTINUE TO DO TO KEEP US INFORMED, CURIOUS, AND QUESTIONING. ALL THINGS WE NEED MORE VIBRANT DEMOCRACY. I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE SOME OTHER HONOREES HERE FOR THE CLASS OF 2022 EARLIER TODAY. [LAUGHTER] AND THAT CEREMONY WAS A PARTICULARLY HOT TICKET. [LAUGHTER] ANYBODY HERE TRY TO SNEAK IN? I WAS TEMPTED TO. [LAUGHTER] BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TAYLOR SWIFT AND I KEEP ENDING UP AT THE SAME EVENTS. [LAUGHTER] BUT NEVER QUITE AT THE SAME TIME. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] I SWEAR, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL IN 2020. ANYONE WHO CAN WRITE LYRICS LIKE "I COULD BUILD A CASTLE OUT OF ALL THE BRICKS THEY THREW AT ME" IS DEFINITELY SOMEONE I WOULD LIKE TO MEET. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] NOW, I'VE LED PROTESTS THAT HAVE CLOSED DOWN TRAFFIC ON MADISON AVENUE. I HAVE LED PEACEFUL SIT INS OF FEDERAL BUILDINGS. I HAVE TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS, AND I'VE EVEN BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A COMEDY CENTRAL DRUNK HISTORY STORY. [LAUGHTER] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I HAVE TO CONFESS, THOUGH, THAT NOTHING MADE ME QUITE SO APPREHENSIVE AS THE PROSPECT OF PREPARING REMARKS FOR YOUR GRADUATING CLASSES. WHY? WELL, USUALLY, GRADUATING CLASSES ARE FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST FINISHED THEIR DEGREES. WHO ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF HEADING OUT INTO THE WORLD. AND IN MANY, THOUGH NOT ALL CASES, ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE A MAJOR CHALLENGE OR DISRUPTION IN THEIR LIVES. YOU COMPLETED YOUR STUDIES ONE, TWO YEARS AGO. YOU ARE ALREADY OUT, WORKING, PURSUING FURTHER DEGREES, OR OTHERWISE MOVING ON WITH YOUR LIVES. AND AS A DISRUPTION, IF THE LAST TWO YEARS DON'T COUNT AS LIFE ALTERING, I'M NOT SURE WHAT DOES. I'VE LIVED THROUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. BUT EVEN FOR ME, THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN SINGULARLY REMARKABLE. BACK IN EARLY 2020, I WAS SO EXCITED AT ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE COMING UP. I WAS PROMOTING MY NEW BOOK, "BEING HEUMANN," AND PARTICIPATING IN FILM FESTIVALS TO SUPPORT THE DOCUMENTARY FILM "CRIP CAMP," WHICH WOULD LATER BE NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR. [APPLAUSE] IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT ALL THE EVENTS COMING UP ON MY CALENDAR WOULDN'T JUST GO AHEAD AS PLANNED. I STILL REMEMBER APPEARING ON "THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH," AND THEN JUST DAYS LATER, BAM, IT WAS AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES OF THE ENTIRE WORLD AND EVERYTHING WAS DIFFERENT. ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME WILL TELL YOU THAT I AM A CAPITAL E FOR EXTROVERT. I LOVE MEETING PEOPLE AND BEING OUT AND ABOUT, BEING PART OF THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE WORLD. YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF BROOKLYN, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE BROOKLYN OUT OF THE GIRL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I DO NOT LIKE TO SIT STILL. I CAN'T PRESUME TO KNOW HOW IT WAS FOR YOU TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SCHOOL YEAR, BUT FOR ME, SUDDENLY, THE WORLD FELT MUCH SMALLER AND A LOT QUIETER. AND THEN, CAME WHAT WE IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY FEARED, DISABLED PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE OUR LIVES WERE CONSIDERED LESS WORTHY OF TREATMENT, DEAF PEOPLE BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH NO ACCESS TO SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING, OR TO MEANINGFULLY PARTICIPATE IN DECISION-MAKING ABOUT THEIR CARE. PEOPLE LOSING ACCESS TO PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND AVOID ENDING UP IN INSTITUTIONS. OVER 200,000 RESIDENTS AND STAFF IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES DIED OF COVID, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 23% OF ALL COVID DEATHS IN THE U.S. AND MANY WERE UNABLE TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES, EVEN AT THE END OF LIFE. AT TIMES LIKE THAT, IT CAN BE EASY TO FEEL OVERWHELMED. TO FEEL POWERLESS TO CHANGE THINGS. OR TO JUST GIVE UP AND TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. BUT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY KNEW BETTER. WE ARE USED TO PEOPLE TELLING US THERE ARE NO SOLUTIONS AND THEN CREATING OUR OWN. SO WE DID WHAT WE DO BEST: WE REACHED OUT TO EACH OTHER AND TO OUR ALLIES, AND WE MOBILIZED ACROSS COMMUNITIES TO MAKE CHANGE TO BENEFIT AND INCLUDE EVERYONE IN SOCIETY. WE DEMANDED THAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS WE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR BE ENFORCED IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, WORKPLACES, TRANSPORTATION, SCHOOLS, AND ELSEWHERE. WE FORMED NETWORKS OF SUPPORT TO KEEP EACH OTHER CONNECTED AND NOURISHED IN BODY AND MIND. AND WE SMILED AS SOCIETY AT LARGE SUDDENLY DISCOVERED ONLINE VIDEOCONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY AND WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITIES THAT DISABLED PEOPLE HAD BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF DEVELOPING AND ADVOCATING FOR LONG BEFORE THE REST OF THE WORLD REALIZED THEY COULD BE PART OF THE NEW NORMAL. [APPLAUSE] AND WE EMBRACED THE EVER WIDENING DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE STRENGTH THAT WE KNOW COMES WITH THAT. THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS ONE THAT ANYONE CAN JOIN AT ANY TIME, SO OUR IDENTITY ARE NATURALLY INTERTWINED WITH ALL OTHER GROUPS IN SOCIETY AROUND THE WORLD. AND WITH MORE PEOPLE SELF IDENTIFYING AS HAVING A DISABILITY, BECAUSE OF LONG COVID AND SOCIETIES INCREASE INTEREST IN DISCUSSING MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, I AM HOPEFUL THAT YET MORE PEOPLE WILL FEEL EMPOWERED TO EMBRACE THEIR DISABILITY IDENTITY, AND THAT EVERYONE WILL FINALLY REALIZE, DISABILITY IS DIFFERENT, IT IS NOT DEFICIENCY. [APPLAUSE] YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD THE DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING QUOTE, THAT INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. WHAT IS LESS OFTEN QUOTED IS WHAT HE SAID NEXT. WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY. TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY. WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY. IF WE HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT AFTER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH OF THOSE WORDS. WE SIMPLY CAN NO LONGER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT WHAT AFFECT OTHERS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, AND WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THE WORLD, WON'T ALSO IMPACT US ALL. THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN HARD, AND AT TIMES, HEARTBREAKING. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. BUT LIKE THE FINEST OF SWORDS, OR CHOCOLATES, IF YOU PREFER, THE TEMPERING YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE FORGE OF THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE YOU STRONGER, EVEN WHEN YOU MIGHT NOT ALWAYS FEEL THAT WAY. THAT IS WHY I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE WORLD YOU ARE GOING TO REBUILD AND ARE ALREADY SHAPING, WITH YOUR CREATIVITY, YOUR P POWER, AND YOUR DIVERSE VOICES. NOW, AND IN THE COMING YEARS, THERE ARE MYRIAD ISSUES THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO COME TOGETHER ACROSS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IF WE ARE TO MEET THOSE CHALLENGES. WHETHER IT IS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY, PROTECTING DEMOCRACY, PRESERVING OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS -- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] CREATING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MORE RESILIENT, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE, OR SIMPLY SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AS WE MODEL OUR WAY THROUGH THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF LIFE, PLEASE KNOW, AND I KNOW YOU BELIEVE, THAT YOU CAUGHT UP TO THOSE CHALLENGES. TO THE NYU CLASSES OF '20 AND '21, CONGRATULATIONS. I WISH YOU STRENGTH AND GOOD FORTUNE AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR LIVES. AND REMEMBER, NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT YOU TOO HAVE YOUR PART TO PLAY IN WEAVING THE STRANDS OF THAT SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY. THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: PLEASE WELCOME THE TISCH SINGERS, WITH A TRIBUTE TO NEW YORK CITY AND THE CLASS OF 2020 AND THE CLASS OF 2021. ♪ ♪ ♪ NYU CLASS OF 2020 AND 2021, HOW ARE YOU FEELING? ♪ ♪ MUSICAL ♪ START SPREADING THE N♪ ♪ I AM LEAVING TODAY ♪ ♪ I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT ♪ ♪ NEW YORK, NEW YORK ♪ ♪ THESE VAGABOND SHOES ♪ ♪ ARE LONGING TO STRAY ♪ ♪ AND STEPPED AROUND THE HEART OF IT ♪ ♪ NEW YORK, NEW YORK ♪ ♪ I WANT TO WAKE UP IN THE CITY THAT DOESN'T SLEEP ♪ ♪ TO FIND I AM KING OF THE HILL ♪ ♪ KING OF THE HILL TOP OF THE HEAT ♪ ♪ MY LITTLE TOWN BLUES ♪ ♪ ARE MELTING AWAY ♪ ♪ I'LL MAKE A BRAND-NEW START OF IT ♪ ♪ NEW YORK, NEW YORK ♪ ♪ IF I CAN MAKE IT THERE ♪ ♪ I'D MAKE IT ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ IT'S UP TO YOU ♪ ♪ NEW YORK, NEW YORK ♪ ♪ NEW YORK, NEW YORK ♪ ♪ I WANT TO WAKE UP IN THE CITY THAT DOESN'T SLEEP ♪ ♪ THAT DOESN'T SLEEP ♪ ♪ TO FIND I AM KING OF EILL, HEAD OTHE LIST, CREAM OF THE CROP AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ARE MELTING AWAY ♪ ♪ I'LL MAKE A BRAND-NEW START OF IT ♪ ♪N OLD NEW YORK ♪ ♪ IF I CAN MAKE IT THERE ♪ ♪ I'LL MAK IT ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ COME O COME THROUGH♪ ♪ NEW YORK ♪W YORK ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Announcer: DISTINISHED ESTS, THE PRESIDENT OF NEW YO UNIVERSITY, ANDREW HAMILTON. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. HELLO,RADUATES. GRADUATESF 2020 AND 202 WHATN ABS TO WELCOME YOU HERE, IN PERSON, AT YANKEE STADIUM, BACK IN THE GREATEST CY IN THE WORLD, NEW YORK CITY! AND A WARM -- AND A WARM WELME TO ALL OYOU TUNING IN VIRTUALLY, BUT ESPECIALLY WEOME 0 ADUATES, AND WELCOME TO OUR CLASS OF02 GRADUATES. [APPUSE] I AM SO PLEEDO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU ALL IN THIS GNIFICENT STADIUM A CEBRATE I PR- FINALLY! YOUR GRAATION FROM NEW YORK NO PARENTS, COLLEAGUES, FAMIES, AND FRIENDS, ULD YOU PLEASE ALL JN ME IN CORALATING OUR GRADUATES FOR EVERYTHING TY ACHIEVED IN THEIR Y [APPLAUS D LETE NOW -- LET ME NOW ACKNLEDGE THE FAMILAND FRIENDS WHO PYED A PIVOTAL ROLE WITH THEIR PPORT OF OUR GRADUATE NOW, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, CLASS TO FIND YOUROVED ONES THETRY CRD. ON, ND SOMEO ELSE'S.WN LOVED AND WT UO EXPRESS UR THANKS TO THEM [APPLAUS NO NOW, AOMMENCEMENT SPCHIT'S CUSTOMARYOR UNIVERTY PRESIDENT TO SET THE TOT E THEIR NEW LIVES. BUT BEING AS YOU' ALRDYEEN OUT OA YE OR T, THE TLES ARE SOWHAT TURY I WOULD VENTE TOUESS THAT WE VE LOT TO LEARN FROM YOU. FIRST AND FOREMO, WE HAVE LENED T AND AN WHEN FACED WITH DIFFICUL. WE HAVE LEAEDROMOU HOW TO CU OUR MDSND HONEUR TEECT BY WCHINYOU RAIN NDEMIC. STE OF A GLOBALND WITH ONE ANOERMIDTIOM YOU HOW T WE LEARNROMOUOW TOEATIO DRIV F O ANOTH.D PPE WE LEARN FM YOU HOW TO FIGH FO CD SOAL JTICE, A MO EITAB FUREAND AE . R YOUR NEIGORHEN YOU LTUP A HAND TO FELW CLASSMAS O NEEDED SUPPORT, ORHO NEEDEAN LY. 2020 AND 21, H TO THINKS OF OUIDOF OUR CIRESWHEN YOU VOLUNTRED TO HELP PPLE PPLE IN EITIEIN WHICH O CPUSE ARE CAD, WHETHER IT WAS TO YOUNG, OR COMPAONIP FOR T ELDEY. LEARNEDRO YOUOW T REMAIN FLEXIBLE D TO POT WHEN FED WITH OBSTACL O UNEXPECTED CHAENS. AND NOW THAT YOU' GRADUATED FROM NYU, WE LEARNED FM YOU HO TT . NO I JUSWOULD LE TS HAVE CHOSEN.OUR CLASSTES EY ARE MANY, THEY ARE VARIED, D THEY ARE MAGNIFICE. SOME OF YOU E FIRST RESPONDERS, OTHERS ARE SOME OF YOU AREANAGEMENT CONSTAN PRODUCS, AISTS OR WRITERS. SOME OFOURE HELPING DRI TENOLOGYN Y ONE OF YOU, O OF U IS EVE AN ENGINEER F LEGO. PPLAUSE] WANT TO MEET THAT PERSON. AND OF COURSE, SOMOF YOU ARE COIR STARTING BUSINESSES, OWOING IN FHION OR IN SPORT. BUT SOME OF YOU ARE STILL FIGURING OUT WHATOUR DREAM JOBS ARE GOING TO BE. OR Y AREETHIING YOUR LIVES AND THE DIRECTIONS YOWANT TO FOLLOW. SOME OF YOU M TAKE SOME TIME TO FIND YOUR PURPO, AND THAT IS OKAY. IN MANY WAYS, WE ARE IN A TIME THE WORLD AROUND UAND WHAT WE VALU FOR MANY OF Y, YOUR TIME AT NYU WAS DURING A POLITICALLY FRACTURES ERA, AND WE MEE HERE AT YANKEE STADM WHEN, THOUGH THE WORLD IS NOW OPENING , WORLD PEACE IS UNDER THREAT. CHALLENGE YOUR THKING AND SAW EXPLORE NEW PERSPTIVES A THESE AY SEEN Y TAKE INTO YOUR NEW LIVES. YOUR EXPERIEE AT NYU HAS PREPARED Y FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT. I KNOW THAT WHEREVER YOUR JOURNEY TAKES YOU, YOU WILL DO SO WITH AN OPEN MIND, A GENERS H. I KNOW THIS FRO WHAT WE HAVE ALR. THERE IS, QUITE FRANKLY, LITTLE WISDOM THAT I CAN IMPART TO THE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, WHO HAVE DISPLAYED SUCH A MATURITY BEYOND YOUR YEARS, NAVIGATING YOUR TIME AT NYU AND YOUR NEW LIVES WITH SUCH GRACE, WITH SUCH APLOMB. TODAY, I AM BRIMMING WITH VIOLET PRIDE. I AM PROUD OF YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELVES. TO THE PARENTS AND LOVED ONES HERE TODAY, THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. AND CLASS OF 2020, CLASS OF 2021, THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK AND JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE TAUGHT US. LET US NEVER FORGET WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH TOGETHER. COME BACK TO SEE US OFTEN, CLASSES OF '20 AND '21. AND FROM EVERYONE AT NYU, ENORMOUS CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL, AND OUR VERY, VERY BEST WISHES FOR THE FUTURE YEARS AHEAD. THANK YOU ALL AND CONGRATULATIONS! [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU! >> AND NOW A MESSAGE TO THE GRADUATES FROM OUR ALUMNI. ♪ ♪ >> CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES. TODAY IS YOUR DAY. I'M A GRADUATE OF THE GALLATIN SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY, CLASS OF 2014. AND NYU ALUMNI TRUSTEE AND PRESIDENT OF YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. TODAY YOU JOIN OVER 600,000 NYU ALUMNI AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE READY TO SUPPORT YOUR NEXT JOURNEY AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING WITH YOU THROUGH UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. AND NOW, HERE ARE JUST A FEW ALUMNI WHO WANT TO WISH YOU CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY. ♪ ♪ >> CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES! YOU DID IT! NOW THE REAL ADVENTURE BEGINS. SO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND BE YOURSELF. PLEASE, DON'T TRY TO BE ANYBODY ELSE BUT YOU APPEAR >> CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES. YOU HAVE NOT BEEN CHOPPED, YOU HAVE MADE IT IN THE BRILLIANT EDUCATION YOU EXPERIENCED AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY IS NOT YOURS TO GO FORTH AND SHARE WITH THE WORLD COME ALONG WITH THE TERRIFIC MANNER AS YOU LEARNED IN NEW YORK CITY. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF NYU. TODAY IS YOUR BIG DAY AND IT'S THE NEXT STEP INTO SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE. DON'T FORGET US AT NYU. WE LOVE YOU, WE SEND YOU LOVE AND I HOPE YOU TOOK ALL THE WISDOM, THE STRENGTH, THE TALENT AND THE JOY THAT YOU HAD HERE AND INSPIRE US IN THE REAL WORLD. >> NYU GRADS, CONGRATULATIONS! DO GREAT THINGS WITH YOUR EDUCATION. >> CHANGE THE WORLD. >> WE WILL SEE YOU ON MARS. >> IT'S MY HONOR TO SHARE THIS ANOINTING WITH THE EMINENT GRADUATES OF NEW YORK UNIV UNIVERSITY. -- MEANS "I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE." CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THIS BLESSING. >> GRADUATES, YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO GET TO THIS MOMENT. BUT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF YOUR BIG LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS. LET GO OF ALL THE SHOULDS. LET GO OF EVERYONE ELSE'S IDEAS OF WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WITH YOUR LIFE AND WHAT SHOULD MATTER TO YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR LIFE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE BIG. >> I SPENT A GOOD PART OF MY LIFE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GET PLACES, BUT I HAVE DONE NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT NYU HAS DONE TO PREPARE YOU TO GO WHEREVER YOU WANT IN THE WORLD. YOU ARE READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT. GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS, ALL OF YOU STUDENTS AND YOUR PARENTS SITTING HERE TODAY. I'VE BEEN AT NYU. AS A STUDENT I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD THEN AND TODAY TO HAVE EARNED MY DEGREE AT THIS AMAZING UNIVERSITY. AND AS A PARENT I REMEMBER SITTING AT GRADUATION WATCHING MY CHILD GRADUATE AND THINKING THE SAME THING, THANK GOD I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR COLLEGE ANYMORE. YOU STUDENTS, THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR ALL OF YOU. THE FUTURE IS YOURS. WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THE DEANS OF EACH SCHOOL WILL NOW PRESENT THEIR CLASS REPRESENTATIVES. GRADUATES SHOULD STAND WHEN THEIR DEAN'S NAME IS CALLED. THE RECOGNITION OF THE CONFERRAL OF ALL DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER ALL THE DEANS HAVE PRESENTED. AS A SIGN OF RESPECT FOR YOUR FELLOW ALUMNI, WE ASK ALL GRADUATES AND THEIR GUESTS TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS UNTIL ALL THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED. [TRUMPET] >> ANTONIO M. MERLO, DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT ARISTIDES ESCOBAR, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND JENDAYI OMOWALE WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> TREVOR MORRISON, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF LAW. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE SCHOOL OF LAW. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT SAFEENA LEILA MECKLAI, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> STACIE GROSSMAN BLOOM, CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER AND VICE PROVOST FOR RESEARCH AT NYU. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE GROSSMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT PHILLIP THOMAS WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND ROCHELLE CASTILLO, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> JELENA KOVACEVIC, DEAN OF THE TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT JIMMY R. MENDOZA-FARFAN WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND ABIGAIL BONILLA, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> MICHAEL P. O'CONNOR, EXECUTIVE VICE DEAN, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT INA HAN, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND ELIZABETH ANN GARRISON, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> LYNNE KIORPES, DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YINING NIE, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> JACK H. KNOTT, DEAN OF THE STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT STACEY ANN GIBSON WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> RAGHU SUNDARAM, DEAN OF THE LEONARD N. STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE LEONARD N. STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT CHRISTOPHER L. HOLDEN, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020, AND ANUSHREE GODBOLE, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> EILEEN SULLIVAN-MARX, DEAN OF THE RORY MEYERS COLLEGE OF NURSING. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE RORY MEYERS COLLEGE OF NURSING. WHO WILL RECEIVE THEIR DEGREES TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT BRITTANY TAAM, WHO WILL RECEIVE HER DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020, AND LAUREN GHAZAL, WHO WILL RECEIVE HER DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> ANGIE KAMATH, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT ISHA ULHAS SANGEKAR, WHO WILL RECEIVE HER SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND AGGIE DENT WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> SHERRY GLIED, DEAN OF THE ROBERT F. WAGNER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE ROBERT F. WAGNER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT DAVID ARONOV, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020, AND BRIA MATHIS, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> NEIL GUTERMAN, DEAN OF THE SILVER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE SILVER SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT DANIELLE PETILLO WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND MARIELA TORRES, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> ALLYSON GREEN, DEAN OF THE TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE JOY OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT ORIANA SIPHANOUM, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020, AND SAMUEL-TAYLOR AUGUSTIN, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> SUSANNE L. WOFFORD, DEAN OF THE GALLATIN SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE GALLATIN SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT ELIZABETH CHESHIRE, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND JUDY LUO, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> JULIE MOSTOV, DEAN OF LIBERAL STUDIES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES IN GLOBAL LIBERAL STUDIES. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TAMARA MOCTEZUMA, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> ARLIE PETTERS, PROVOST OF NYU ABU DHABI. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM NYU ABU DHABI. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT EKIN BASARAN, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND GABRIELLE BRANCHE, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> MARIA MONTOYA, DEAN OF ARTS AND SCIENCES OF NYU SHANGHAI. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM NYU SHANGHAI. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT AMY JAN ERNST, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020, AND ETHAN SLATER WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> CHERYL G. HEALTON, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THE GRADUATES FROM THE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YEERAE KIM, WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2020, AND MARY VIRGINIA HOLIMAN WHO WILL RECEIVE A SYMBOLIC DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] >> AND NOW, PROVOST KATHERINE FLEMING. >> WE NOW PROCEED TO THE FORMAL CONFERRAL OF DEGREES. IN KEEPING WITH UNIVERSITY TRADITION, WE HIGHLIGHT THIS IMPORTANT MOMENT BY PASSING THE UNIVERSITY TORCH -- THE SYMBOL OF LEARNING -- FROM A SENIOR MEMBER OF OUR ACADEMIC COMMUNITY TO THE MOST JUNIOR. HOLDING THE UNIVERSITY TORCH IS JUDITH HABER, URSULA SPRINGER LEADERSHIP PROFESSOR IN NURSING, IN THE RORY MEYERS COLLEGE OF NURSING. WHEN PRESIDENT HAMILTON COMMEMORATES THE CONFERRAL OF YOUR DEGREES, PROFESSOR HABER WILL PASS THE TORCH TO THE YOUNGEST BACCALAUREATE MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2020, RICHARD SHU FROM THE TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. [APPLAUSE] RICHARD WILL INVITE THE YOUNGEST BACCALAUREATE MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2021, VICTORIA TONG FROM THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, TO JOIN HIM. [APPLAUSE] EACH WAS 19-YEARS-OLD WHEN THEY EARNED THEIR DEGREES FROM NYU. [APPLAUSE] WILL ALL THE GRADUATES PLEASE NOW RISE. >> ALUMNI FROM THE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, THROUGH YOUR SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS, AS CERTIFIED BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR DEANS, YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS HALLMARK OF NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE TRUSTEES, I ADMITTED YOU TO THE DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES FOR WHICH YOU WERE RECOMMENDED AND APPROVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. CONGRATULATIONS, NYU GRADUATES! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [TRUMPET FANFARE] >> GRADUATES, GRADUATES, YOU HAVE ALREADY JOINED THE RANKS OF NYU ALUMNI AND HAVE STARTED SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND USING YOUR TALENTS TO BENEFIT HUMANITY. CONTINUE THIS TRADITION THAT REACHES BACK TO 1831, EMBODYING THE WORDS OF OUR MOTTO: "PERSTARE ET PRAESTARE," PERSEVERE AND EXCEL. CONGRATULATIONS! TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, WELL DONE! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GRADUATES, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS, THIS CONCLUDES THESE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES. THE PLATFORM PARTY WILL NOW RECESS. CONGRATULATIONS, ALUMNI FROM THE CLASS OF 2020 AND CLASS OF 2021. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
